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This papers has been issued without formal editing.
The activities of the project on AApplication of New Technology
in Population Data Collection, Processing, Dissemination
and Presentation were introduced to the Working
Party during its first meeting in secretariat document
STAT/WPA/5. They consist of:
formulation of a working
party, consisting of eight experts from selected
countries of the region, to identify priorities
and provide guidance in the application of computer
technology in producing population statistics;
commissioning of specific
national activities in three developing countries,
leading to the establishment or adaptation of
IT applications in population statistics; and
sharing of country experiences
in the development of information technology
in the population field through a regional newsletter.
Table 1 provides information on the progress made on each
activity and indicates salient points concerning
likely future action. The recommendations of the
Working Party to date have been integrated into
the work plan as they relate to various activities,
or have been included towards the end of the table
under Aother matters.
The secretariat requests the Working Party's views and
action as indicated in the Table.
Table
1 Review of the Project Activities
Objective
1:
To formulate recommendations and guidelines on the application
of modern information technology in the field of
population statistics, such as data capture, geographic
information systems (GIS) and development of population
databases, and to disseminate them to the countries
in the region.
Objective
2:
To develop modern technology-based application systems
in the field of population statistics in three pilot
countries.
Activity
Schedule
Progress and future action
2.1 Contact countries to
find out their interest and needs. Selection
of countries for different applications.
2.2 Engagement of suitable institutions
for undertaking country level activities.
2.3 Implementation of various applications
and their dissemination.
September
1997 to
February 1998.
December
1997 to
February 1998.
To be
determined
in consultation
with the
institutions concerned.
At its first meeting the Working Party identified
the topics and the sites of the 3 pilot
applications to be undertaken as : (1) Imaging
technology (Indonesia); (2) Use of GIS for
census operations and dissemination (Philippines);
and (3) Use of GPS for preparation of census
enumeration area maps (Bangladesh).
Due to personnel resource constraints of
the ESCAP secretariat, progress was slow
in implementing the activities of the project.
It was only in March 1998 that a draft letter
of agreement was sent to each of the national
organizations concerned with the pilot applications,
for their review, completion and elaboration.
The pilot countries are requested
to work together with the secretariat to
finalize the project designs in a standard
format, during the Singapore meeting and
afterwards.
At its first meeting the Working Party recommended
that the secretariat should conduct a survey
to assess the use of information technology
in population data collection, processing
and dissemination.
The Working Party is requested to
comment on a draft questionnaire prepared
by the secretariat, before it is sent to
the national statistical offices of the
region.
2.4 Preparation of reports
on the experience and progress by countries.
To be
discussed.
Schedules to be determined by the pilot
countries in consultation with the secretariat.
2.5 Review of the progress
reports by the Working Party.
At the
meetings of the Working Party.
The schedule for the reviews to be determined
by the Working Party.
2.6 Dissemination of reports
on country activities to NSOs
From 1998
to 1999.
Timing and mode of dissemination to
be determined by the Working Party.
Objective
3:
To promote effective use of information technology for the production
and dissemination of population data.
Activity
Schedule
Progress and future action
3.1 Issuing newsletter
twice a year.
Throughout the duration
of project, 1997-1999
Due to delays in the recruitment of the
programme assistant work on the newsletter
had to be postponed.
At its first meeting the Working Party noted:
"Recognizing that the parent organizations
of some of its members were engaged in a
wide range of evaluations of technology
options for various aspects of population
data processing, the Working Party recommended
that the results of such evaluations should
be shared."
The members of the Working Party are
requested to share such results.
3.2 Development of a training
package, in conjunction with SIAP, on effective
applications of new technology for population
data. The package may consist of a video or
a computer-based slide show etc.
1998-1999
A "training package" will be developed and
widely distributed. It is intended to raise
awareness of technological applications for
population data among senior and middle level
management. A paper by SIAP on the topic will
be presented at the second meeting of the
Working Party.
Other matters
Activity
Schedule
At its first meeting, the
Working Party recommended that a sub group
("Working Group") should be formed to view
the imaging technologies and facilitate their
selection and deployment. It should include
Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.
Indonesia will be the convener of this group.
In addition UNSD should be invited to participate.
1998
The Working Party is requested to take
necessary steps and provide guidance to the
convener and the secretariat to implement
this recommendation as early as possible.
At the last meeting in
Bangkok, members of the Working Party agreed
to contribute material to the Newsletter.
1998-1999
The members of the Working Party are requested
to send their contributions to the secretariat.
Annex
Mode of Functioning of the Working Party
The Working Party will consist of eight nine experts from countries of
the ESCAP region, selected in consultation with the respective national
statistical offices. It will be preferable for the same experts to be present
in all the meetings of the Working Party. However, in the absence of the
initially designated expert, his/her organization may send an alternate.
Additional experts from the same country represented on the Working Party
may attend at the expense of their own organizations. Observers from relevant
international and national organizations will also be invited to participate
in the meeting of the working party. The tenure of the Working Party will
be 1997-1999 during which it will organize at least four meetings. For each
designated expert (one per country) the cost of attendance in the Working
Party meetings will be borne by ESCAP, as per rules and regulations of the
United Nations.
At its first meeting the Working Party identified
the topics and the sites of the 3 pilot
applications to be undertaken as : (1) Imaging
technology (Indonesia); (2) Use of GIS for
census operations and dissemination (Philippines);
and (3) Use of GPS for preparation of census
enumeration area maps (Bangladesh).
The pilot countries are requested
to work together with the secretariat to
finalize the project designs in a standard
format, during the Singapore meeting and
afterwards. 
